Behold the fire pink (Silene virginica)!

April 6, 2020

Behold the fire pink (Silene virginica)! When I was a little kid, the fire pink was always my favorite wildflower, and my grandma and I would go poking around the old spring every ... spring ... to look for them. Unfortunately, fire pinks are fairly short-lived perennials, lasting only about 2-3 years. I found this one not too far from the old spring, and while it's the first I've encountered so far this year, it will hopefully not be the last. Fire pinks begin blooming in the spring and continue blooming throughout the summer. Their main pollinator is the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), which is drawn to the bright red flowers and the sugary nectar contained within. Fire pinks belong to the family Caryophyllaceae, which is a large family containing more than 2,500 known species. There's a good chance that you had the most famous member of this family pinned to your lapel or dress at your high school prom; fire pinks belong to the same family as carnations! #BenInNature

About this post: Social distancing can be difficult, but the next few weeks present a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.

This post brought to you by VMNH Corporate Partner Everything Outdoors, LLC.